Zesty Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs Recipe for Sunday Dinner
Juicy chicken thighs marinated in a zesty orange cranberry sauce bring vibrant flavors to your dinner table.
Bold and tangy, this baked orange cranberry chicken thighs recipe delivers a delightful culinary experience.
The combination of sweet citrus and tart cranberries creates a mouthwatering glaze that caramelizes perfectly during baking.
Every bite promises a burst of rich, succulent flavor that will make your taste buds dance.
Simple ingredients transform an ordinary weeknight meal into something extraordinary.
Minimal prep work means you can enjoy a gourmet-style dish without spending hours in the kitchen.
Serve these chicken thighs with a side of roasted vegetables for a complete and satisfying meal that will impress everyone at the table.
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 360 kcal
Servings: 3
Everything Needed For Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
For Protein Base:
Chicken Thighs: Rich, juicy cut that absorbs flavors beautifully, choose bone-in and skin-on for maximum tenderness and crispy texture.
For Sauce and Flavor Enhancers:
Orange Juice, Orange Zest: Bright citrus elements that add vibrant, tangy sweetness and aromatic depth to the dish.
Honey: Natural sweetener that balances acidity and helps create a glossy sauce coating.
Soy Sauce: Provides umami depth and subtle saltiness to complement the sweet and tangy elements.
Dijon Mustard: Adds a gentle, sharp kick and helps emulsify the sauce for smooth consistency.
Dried Thyme: Earthy herb that brings subtle woodsy undertones to the overall flavor profile.
Garlic Powder: Convenient seasoning that infuses mild, savory notes throughout the dish.
Cranberries: Tart berries that provide burst of freshness and beautiful color contrast.
For Cooking and Finishing:
Olive Oil: Perfect for searing chicken and creating golden, crispy exterior.
Salt, Black Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the chicken's natural flavors.
Cornstarch: Helps thicken sauce for richer, more luxurious consistency if desired.
Tools To Cook Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Large skillet: Essential for searing chicken and creating golden, flavorful exterior.
Baking dish or cast-iron skillet: Key for roasting chicken and catching delicious sauce.
Medium bowl: Perfect for mixing orange cranberry sauce ingredients.
Whisk: Crucial for blending sauce ingredients smoothly.
Small saucepan: Helpful for thickening sauce if desired.
Paper towels: Needed to pat chicken dry before seasoning.
Measuring cups and spoons: Important for accurate ingredient quantities.
Cutting board: Useful for zesting orange and preparing ingredients.
Sharp knife: Necessary for zesting and preparing ingredients.
Easy Steps For Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Kitchen Prep The heart of delicious cooking starts with a cozy oven. Warm your kitchen companion to a toasty 375 degrees, creating the perfect environment for your culinary adventure.
Chicken Embrace Gently dry your chicken thighs, welcoming a sprinkle of salt and pepper to awaken their natural flavors. This tender touch prepares them for their delicious journey.
Flavor Awakening Dance your chicken in a sizzling skillet, letting golden edges form a crispy armor. This quick sear locks in rich, mouth-watering goodness that will make taste buds dance.
Sauce Symphony Craft a magical liquid blend where tangy orange meets sweet cranberry. Whisk together juice, zest, honey, and secret flavor enhancers that transform ordinary ingredients into extraordinary magic.
Baking Transformation Nestle your chicken in a baking dish, allowing the vibrant sauce to embrace each piece. Let the oven work its transformative powers for 35-40 minutes, turning ingredients into a masterpiece.
Final Flourish If desired, create a luxurious sauce by gently simmering and thickening the cooking juices, adding an extra layer of culinary artistry.
Celebration Plate Drape your golden chicken with its luscious sauce, perhaps adorning with a whisper of fresh herbs. Serve alongside warm companions like fluffy rice or roasted vegetables, ready to delight.
Ideas To Change Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Perfect Skin Technique: Pat chicken thighs completely dry before searing to achieve ultra-crispy golden skin that's irresistibly crunchy and flavorful.
Low-Carb Swap: Replace honey with sugar-free maple syrup or monk fruit sweetener for a diabetic-friendly and keto-compatible version of the recipe that maintains delicious flavor profiles.
Herb Garden Boost: Experiment with fresh rosemary or sage instead of dried thyme to elevate the sauce's aromatic complexity and add a vibrant herbal dimension to the dish.
Protein Alternative: Substitute chicken thighs with chicken breasts or turkey thighs for a versatile recipe that works with different protein preferences while maintaining similar cooking temperatures and techniques.
Meal Prep Magic: Prepare this dish ahead of time and store in refrigerator for up to 3 days, allowing flavors to meld and intensify, making it an excellent option for quick weeknight dinners or make-ahead meal planning.
Simple Ways To Serve Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Festive Family Feast: Serve these zesty chicken thighs over fluffy white rice, allowing the vibrant orange cranberry sauce to drizzle and infuse each grain with tangy sweetness.
Orange Herb Elegance: Sprinkle fresh chopped parsley, thyme, or chives on top to add a bright, herbal note that complements the citrusy cranberry sauce and enhances the dish's visual appeal.
Colorful Side Companions: Pair with roasted seasonal vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or butternut squash to create a balanced meal that highlights the chicken's rich, tangy flavors and adds nutritional variety.
Leftover Magic: Transform remaining chicken and sauce into a delicious next-day lunch by shredding meat and mixing with the sauce over a crisp salad or stuffing into a warm sandwich wrap.
Storage Tips For Baked Orange Cranberry Chicken Thighs
Smart Refrigeration Strategy: Store leftover chicken thighs in airtight containers within 2 hours of cooking. Properly sealed meals stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days, maintaining delicious flavor and food safety.
Freezing Friendly Option: Carefully package chicken thighs in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty zip-lock bags. Frozen meals remain tasty for up to 2 months when sealed tightly and stored at consistent temperatures.
Reheating Magic Technique: Warm refrigerated chicken in the oven at 350F for best texture. Cover with foil to prevent drying, and heat until internal temperature reaches 165F. Microwave works faster but might reduce skin crispiness.
Sauce Separation Solution: Keep orange cranberry sauce separate from chicken when storing. This prevents soggy skin and helps maintain the original crispy texture. Add sauce fresh during reheating for maximum flavor and quality.
Succulent orange cranberry chicken thighs elevate weeknight dinners with Mediterranean-inspired flavors. Zesty citrus and tart cranberries create a delightful glaze that complements tender chicken perfectly, promising a meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
1 cup (240 ml) fresh orange juice
⅓ cup (65 g) honey
1 cup (100 g) fresh or frozen cranberries
2 tbsps soy sauce
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
1 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp dried thyme
1 tbsp cornstarch (optional, for thickening)
Zest of 1 orange
Instructions
Preheat and Prepare: Heat oven to 375F (190C) and lightly spray a baking dish with cooking spray to prevent adhesion.
Season and Sear: Pat chicken thighs dry, season with salt and black pepper. Sear in hot skillet with olive oil, developing a golden-brown crust on skin-side for 3-4 minutes to lock in moisture and intensify flavor profile.
Compose Sauce: Blend orange juice, zest, honey, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, and dried thyme in a mixing bowl. Incorporate cranberries, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
Assemble and Coat: Position seared chicken thighs skin-side up in prepared baking dish. Lavishly drench meat with prepared sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
Roast to Perfection: Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes until chicken internal temperature reaches 165F and skin becomes crisp and bronzed.
Enhance Sauce (Optional): Transfer cooking liquids to saucepan. Create cornstarch slurry, integrate into sauce to achieve a velvety, concentrated consistency.
Plate and Garnish: Drizzle reduced sauce over chicken. Embellish with additional orange zest or fresh herbs. Serve alongside complementary accompaniments like rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted vegetables.
Notes
Moisture Mastery: Pat chicken thighs completely dry before seasoning to ensure crispy skin and prevent steaming instead of browning.
Searing Secrets: Use a hot cast-iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan for optimal caramelization, creating a flavor-packed exterior that seals in juices.
Sauce Balancing: Adjust honey and soy sauce ratios to control sweetness and saltiness, tasting and tweaking before pouring over chicken for personalized flavor profile.
Temperature Precision: Use a digital meat thermometer to guarantee chicken reaches exactly 165F, preventing overcooking while ensuring food safety.
Recipe Development, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education
Education
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.
Ballymaloe Cookery School
Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.
Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget.
Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.
She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.
Liam O’Sullivan
Founder & Culinary Content Creator
Expertise
Recipe Development, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education
Education
Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology
Ballymaloe Cookery School
Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget.
Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.
She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.